The Town of Westport has embraced the philosophies set forth in “National Standards for Youth Sports,” a publication compiled by the National Alliance for Youth Sports

The following Standards were established:

Standard #1 –Proper Sports Environment Parents must consider and carefully choose the proper environment for their child, including the appropriate age and development for participation, the type of sport, the rules in the sport, the age range of the participants, and the proper level of physical and emotional stress.

Standard #2 –Programs Based on Well-Being of Child Parents must select youth sports programs that are developed and organized to enhance the emotional, physical, social and educational well-being of children.

Standard #3 –Drug, Tobacco, and Alcohol-Free Environment Parent must encourage a drug, tobacco and alcohol-free environment for their children.

Standard #4 –Part of Child’s Life Parents must recognize that youth sports are only a small part of a child’s life.

Standard #5 -Training Parents must insist that coaches be trained and certified.

Standard #6 –Parents’ Active Role Parents must make a serious effort to take an active role in the youth sports experience of their child providing positive support as a spectator, coach, league administrator and/or caring parent.

Standard #7 –Positive Role Models Parents must be a positive role model exhibiting sportsmanlike behavior at games, practices, and home while giving positive reinforcement to their child and support their child’s coaches.

Standard #8 –Parental Commitment Parents must demonstrate their commitment to their child’s youth sports experience by annually signing a parental code of ethics.

Standard #9 –Safe Playing Situations Parents must insist on safe playing facilities, healthful playing situations and proper first aid applications, should the need arise.

Standard #10 –Equal Play Opportunity Parents, coaches, and league administrators must provide equal sports play opportunity for all youth regardless of race, creed, sex, economic status or ability.